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The Changing GameBy Robin Rhyme

Life is full of games. We are all playing some
game, more than one, at any given hour of the day.
How to get to work on time? How to make enough money
to pay the bills? How to get rid of those annoying
tree bores that ruin the fruit trees in the yard?
And they can be even more serious, how to handle a
mad man who holds the keys to massive destruction?
But enough of all that, I am merely illustrating
the point to lead into the game of fly angling.

Fly angling is a game that I play. Games are composed
of freedoms, barriers and purposes. When I first began
fly fishing the game was, "get a fly out on the water
without snarling up all the line and leader and tippet"
(what's a leader, tippet...?) That was the purpose and
the barriers were obvious; lack of skill, knowledge,
practice, motor memory.

As time passed the game held fewer barriers, became
more interesting then less and less interesting as
skills were gained. The game evolved. Getting the
fly to light in a specific spot. Or possibly less
splash or a lighter presentation. Again, gaining
skill, overcoming not unknown barriers, gaining
happiness as the game was won.

"What to do now? This game is boring. What's that?
A sinking line?" Or the roll cast and fishing in tight
little spots. Or salt water or distance casting or
dries only "upstream and across."

As I see it we all have our personal games that we
play. If our game has a different set of rules than
the next fellows then so be it. Not going to insist
that others play the game the way I play it. It's my
game, my rules, my wins and losses and happiness gained.

So the next time you are looking at your game,
maybe an analysis of what the game is, what
the freedoms, barriers and purposes are and where
you want it to go could give you some added zest.
(If you cheat and apply this to more than fly
angling well, I won't tell). ~ Robin